Building a dark cinematic world around the themes of her new single This Is Who I Am, British singer-songwriter Celeste makes her directorial debut for an accompanying short film – with artist Edward Rollitt and movement direction by Holly Blakey. “Holly has this highly intelligent attuned and primal way of interpreting one’s spirit and finding movement that works for you naturally” she says, “something that is already in your body, on the tips of your limbs, but perhaps you are scared to share”.

Shot on location in Winchester with a close team of collaborators, Celeste positions the film as a respectful yet theatrical reminder of the oppression women have faced throughout history, and their collective strength and resilience to overcome – introducing two key characters related to her upcoming 2025 album.

Discussing the concept, she shared, “The initial thinking behind the idea is that there is a sense that we, as a people, are enduring a kind of suffering, perhaps due to a lack of connectivity among people in society. It has been my thinking for a long time now that we feel quite often that women are, or should be, the bearers of our comfort. But in the way our roles and lives have evolved, we are no longer the universal caregivers that keep a society functioning, feeling loved, nurtured, and in the safety of the metaphorical womb. I believe this has led to a level of frustration, of violence towards women. My hope is that the depiction of myself, although bound, shows a strength that defies the circumstance.